WCHM Chapter 62

The term fortune-telling was unfamiliar to most people in the Federation.

After the Great Interstellar Cataclysm, the Federation had lost the historical records and cultural inheritance of the previous ten thousand years. Although scholars had spent centuries reconstructing fragments of the past, and universities now offered an elective course called Ancient Blue Star Studies, enrollment remained low.

As a result, ancient culture was still something most interstellar citizens knew very little about.

The moment Lu Chi unveiled his banner, an unusual three-second silence swept across the entire arena. For a brief moment, even the discussions about him being a Beta were overshadowed.

The commentator was stunned as well.

Just as he was about to say something, an urgent message suddenly came through his earpiece.

“Qingchu, smooth things over for Lu Chi immediately! Don’t discuss his secondary gender. Redirect the audience’s attention to his opponent.”

The commentator froze again.

He couldn’t understand why his trouble-loving supervisor had suddenly changed his attitude, but still, he was a professional. Immediately, he smiled and shifted the topic.

“It seems everyone is looking forward to this match! Although the D-Rank division is primarily for newcomers, there are still many outstanding students participating. I’ve heard one Alpha contestant comes from the Libya Star Ring…”

On the other side of the broadcast, silence filled the control room as not a single staff member dared speak. Lin Jingsi stood expressionlessly, watching as the director hurriedly delivered his instructions.

Behind him, Yu Kexing wore his usual frail-looking smile as he added: “Also, give Mr. Lu’s advertisement more screen time. Fortune-telling is part of Ancient Blue Star’s cultural heritage. It’s worth every Federation citizen learning about.”

Standing behind him, the recovered Luo Zexu had also arrived. In his usual gentle tone, he added: “Regardless of the tournament’s outcome, I hope everyone here follows media ethics. Don’t exaggerate events or stir up malicious publicity. The academy and its students are not tools for boosting your ratings.”

“……”

Cold sweat appeared on the director’s forehead as he nodded repeatedly. Only after all three men finally left did the staff collectively release a breath they had been holding.

Lingering fear remained as they stared at the broadcast screens. After a long pause, someone cautiously asked:

“Boss… who exactly is this Lu Chi?! I’ve never even heard of his family.”

A first-year Beta student…

And yet somehow all three heirs of the Federation’s major powers had shown up to protect him?!

Moreover, there were rumors of a love triangle between those three. They knew each other, belonged to rival factions, and should have been enemies, so…

Just what kind of person was Lu Chi? What had he done to make them all appear on his behalf?

It was unbelievable.

The director was equally confused. However, he simply waved the question away impatiently, saying, “Don’t worry about things that aren’t your business. Just do your jobs.”

“Oh, and pull up last month’s Ancient Blue Star course materials. Coordinate them with Mr. Lu’s advertisement and put together a loop of content related to fortune-telling.”

“Should we use this month’s promotional slots for ancient culture too?”

“Yes. Add his contact code while you’re at it and promote that as well.”

“Got it!”

After leaving the studio, the three men immediately separated. Each headed toward the viewing area reserved for their respective factions, carefully maintaining distance from one another.

Unfortunately, the best seats on the Floating Island were limited. And because all three represented forces of comparable status, their assigned locations happened to be in the same direction.

As a result, they were forced to walk together for part of the journey.

The atmosphere remained silent and tense, but the carpet beneath their feet was soft. Lin Jingsi’s expression was cold as he stared at the holographic livestream displayed on his terminal, as blue light reflected in his dark green eyes.

Within that glow was Lu Chi.

Only Lu Chi.

After several minutes of walking, Yu Kexing suddenly spoke. With a smile, he shattered the silence, complaining, “I never expected Senior Lin to be such a romantic.”

“You even like giving rings as gifts,” he paused. “Though your taste seems rather poor.”

“If I wasn’t mistaken, the ring you gave him was made from a D-class mineral crystal. It’s not worth much.”

Lin Jingsi stopped walking. The young Alpha slowly narrowed his eyes and turned toward Yu Kexing expressionlessly. The Omega’s face remained pale. His smile, however, carried the elegant arrogance unique to old-money conglomerates.

“Fifty carats. Excavated from Ancient Blue Star geological strata. Auction value barely reaches ten million.”

“One look and you can tell it’s the sort of tasteless thing favored by the Legion.”

“Senior Lin, if you’re experiencing financial difficulties lately, I’d be happy to lend you some credits or perhaps a few collectibles.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not a stingy person.”

“……”

Looking at the superiority in Yu Kexing’s eyes, Lin Jingsi suddenly remembered the things he himself had once said to Lu Chi when they first met.

The tone had been almost identical…

Exactly the same.

Had he really been that disgusting back then?!

A faint look of revulsion crossed his face, but mistaking the reaction for a successful attack, Yu Kexing smiled even wider.

“Don’t misunderstand, Senior Lin,” he continued. “I simply think that no matter what, you shouldn’t use something so cheap to brush him off. He deserves better.”

“Whether that’s a person, an object, or love itself.”

“Don’t you agree?”

Beside them, Luo Zexu watched calmly. Frowning slightly, he realized he had absolutely no idea what the two of them were talking about.

The exit came into view, and light spilled in from outside. The sounds of the crowd and the announcements preparing for the next match drifted toward them.

At that moment, Lin Jingsi unexpectedly smiled.

The man stood nearly one meter eighty-five tall. When he turned to look at Yu Kexing, the sharpness of his dark green eyes made him seem even more imposing.

Yu Kexing paused.

Then he heard Lin Jingsi say meaningfully: “You should say that in front of him.”

“You should tell him that the so-called better things you’re talking about are just garbage. That the object representing love and devotion is also garbage,” he paused. Then his gaze turned icy. “After all, how would someone born from a forced marriage ever understand what love means?”

The moment the words left his mouth, the Omega’s face turned deathly white.

Lin Jingsi let out a mocking laugh.

Without another glance, he strode past him. And crushed something beneath his foot.

The Alpha truly seemed to have become the man who had given Lu Chi that ring. Looking down at Yu Kexing from above, he declared his victory with cutting contempt.

“Go watch a few idiotic romance films before coming back to make a fool of yourself in front of me.”

“You pathetic freak. You think you’re qualified to talk about love?”

Lin Jingsi’s figure disappeared unhurriedly through the exit. Luo Zexu coughed twice and soon left as well.

As for Yu Kexing, he stared expressionlessly at the doorway. A moment later, the fingers clenched at his side spasmed violently, and blood dripped from his palm with a soft patter.

Lowering his gaze, he calmly took out a handkerchief and wiped it away, but his mechanical hand slowly crushed the handkerchief into pieces. After a long silence, the Omega lifted his eyes and smiled once more before making his way into the noisy arena.

…………………

Lu Chi was still flashing peace signs at the cameras. Completely unaware of the vicious exchange between the Protagonist and the Main Shou, he focused solely on being cute.

Inside his head, the system enthusiastically cheered him on.

[So adorable! I’m recording this for Baby!]

The discussions in the arena gradually became lively again. The Federation’s practical combat tournament opened with straightforward duels and no simulated battlefields. After all, the D-rank war zone was a beginner’s bracket. Only first-year students and the weakest competitors ended up here.

Aside from the possibility of being matched against a stronger opponent due to random matchmaking, there was usually very little to worry about.

At the same time, numerous C- through A-rank matches were being broadcast throughout the venue, allowing spectators to choose which battle zones they wanted to watch.

If not for that viral forum post about a Beta competitor, the audience for this match probably wouldn’t have exceeded five figures.

And it was still growing rapidly.

The commentator wiped away sweat and continued trying to redirect attention professionally. Unfortunately, four of the director’s cameras remained locked onto Lu Chi, shamelessly farming traffic from his advertising banner, apparently terrified of offending whoever had pressured them into giving this Beta special treatment.

With nothing left to say, the commentator resorted to praising Lu Chi from head to toe.

“Uh… just look at this contestant! That black combat suit looks absolutely incredible on him! Those legs are long and straight, his proportions are perfect, broad shoulders, narrow waist, he’s practically built like a professional model!”

“His bangs are a little too long to see his face clearly, but every visible feature is stunning! Skin that fair, a nose that elegant, even celebrities in holo-commercials don’t look this good. Truly terrifying!”

The audience: “…”

If you have nothing to say, commentator, you can just stay quiet!

Thankfully, the awkward pre-match period soon ended. Lu Chi entered the massive cat-shaped mecha and settled into the pilot’s seat. Lowering his eyes, he put on the holographic visor.

Gathering his long hair, he tied it into a loose low ponytail and opened the notifications flashing across his terminal, where new messages had arrived.

A-0822: [Lu Chi, the audience below is full of people from Homeland Group. If you need anything, blink at the fifth camera. I’ll make your opponent lose combat capability immediately.]

A-0822: [Don’t worry. No one will notice.]

This was the clever, manipulative Main Shou.

A-0207: [The Institute developed a new recovery serum. If you need it, send me a message after the match. I’ll bring some over.]

A-0207: [Don’t worry. It’s free this time.]

This was the impotent pervert, the Second Male Lead.

Expressionless, Lu Chi scrolled past both messages and casually opened Lin Jingsi’s chat window instead.

S-0417: [Looking forward to your victory pose.]

S-0417: [How about making cat ears?]

…Cat ears?

Lu Chi considered it for a moment. His thick eyelashes fluttered lightly like butterfly wings, and he actually…

He readily agreed.

B-1121: [Sure.]

B-1121: [Cute cat ears.jpg]

The reply came instantly. Lin Jingsi immediately stole the sticker and copied it.

S-0417: [Cute cat ears.jpg]

S-0417: [You’re adorable.]

The countdown began. Lu Chi closed the terminal and gently attached the sensory chip. As he did, he heard the system ask: [Host, why are you smiling all of a sudden? You look really pretty.]

Was he smiling?

Closing his eyes, Lu Chi didn’t answer. Instead, he asked softly: [Are you ready?]

The system immediately tensed up, clenching its fists.

[Ready! Baby, I’m going to castrate them!]

“…”

Well… that worked too.

The metal gates opened. The cat mecha shot upward at incredible speed and flashed into the center of the enormous arena. At the same time, his opponent lazily piloted their own mecha into position across from him.

The commentator’s heart nearly stopped when he identified the pilot.

“It’s an A-rank Alpha freshman from the Combat Techniques Department!”

“I’ve heard he’s one of the more famous combat prodigies among this year’s incoming class. He comes from the Lu Financial Consortium and was disciplined shortly after enrollment for beating a Beta so severely that he crippled them…”

The commentator frowned.

“This could be a very dangerous match.”

Down in the control room, the director broke out in a cold sweat and grabbed the staff member responsible for match assignments.

“Are you insane?! Who told you to pair him with an A-rank Alpha?! If something happens, who’s taking responsibility?!”

People died in practical combat tournaments, ah!!!

“Y-you were the one who told me yesterday to increase the probability of uneven matchups for better ratings!” The employee looked ready to cry. “I was just following orders! If anyone’s to blame, it’s his terrible luck…”

Once the tournament began, the arena was sealed shut. Unless someone literally blew open the gates, nobody could leave until “Cocoon” determined a victor.

How was the director supposed to know that ten minutes before the match, three individuals he absolutely couldn’t afford to offend would arrive to protect a Beta he had looked down on?!

Shoving the employee aside, he paced anxiously. Then he looked up.

On-screen, the black mecha piloted by the Alpha had already taken flight and was circling the gray cat mecha in a mocking orbit. After a moment, the black mech casually raised its arm and lightly slapped the cat mecha across the face.

The force wasn’t significant, but the humiliation absolutely was.

High above the arena, Lin Jingsi abruptly rose to his feet. His dark green eyes locked onto the mecha with the icy gaze of someone staring at a corpse.

Yu Kexing and Luo Zexu’s expressions darkened as well, and both immediately began investigating the Alpha’s identity.

Meanwhile, Lu Chi remained remarkably calm. Narrowing his eyes, he listened to the system’s furious shrieking before asking calmly: [How long can you maintain synchronization with me right now?]

The system paused.

[At most ten minutes.]

Consciousness synchronization was considered an advanced mecha-combat technique. Federation pilots synchronized their minds with “Cocoon” to the highest possible degree, allowing their thoughts to become as precise and calculating as an AI. The goal was to maximize combat performance.

But Lu Chi’s synchronization was different. For him, it was equivalent to complete control, for the system trusted him completely.

When Lu Chi synchronized with it, it was like a person picking up their own housecat and freely moving its limbs however they wished.

The mecha’s arms became his arms. The mecha’s armor became his own flesh and blood.

The longer he controlled it, however, the more violently his brain would ache.

Still, instinct warned him that the opponent before him was dangerous.

Lin Jingsi had taught him something:

Trust your first instinct in battle.

That instinct was your brain’s warning signal, and sometimes, the only opportunity you’ll get to turn the tide. So without hesitation, Lu Chi ordered: [Raise the laser cannons. Synchronize immediately.]

The system responded just as quickly: [Got it, Baby!]

The black mecha continued circling the cat mecha, clearly intending to taunt it again. Suddenly, laser cannons rose from the cat mecha’s body, and a shell fired.

BOOM!

It slammed directly into the black mecha’s armor. Caught completely off guard, the Alpha froze for a split second, and Lu Chi instantly seized the opening. Expressionless, he raised a mechanical arm and smashed it straight toward the Alpha’s head.

The gray cat mecha transformed into a world-conquering alien cat as it… headbutted the black mecha like a maniac.

BANG!

The Alpha was knocked flat onto the ground. Then the cat jumped on top of him and started stomping.

“This student’s fighting style…” The commentator was dumbfounded. “Is unbelievably violent!”

“But honestly, considering the galaxy-wide gap between a B-rank Beta and an A-rank Alpha, the fact that he managed to knock down an Alpha even once is already a miracle!”

The crowd also erupted, for no one had expected this outcome.

Lu Chi raised an eyebrow as the system screamed inside his head: [You dared slap my Baby?! I’ll ram you to death! Ram you to death, you bastard!]

…This was the downside of bringing a cat into battle.

Cats were prone to losing control.

But the black mecha recovered quickly. Apparently enraged, it immediately raised its weapon and unleashed a rapid barrage of gunfire.

At last, the true instincts of an A-rank Alpha emerged, and his movements became sharp and practiced.

In less than three seconds, he overturned the rampaging cat mecha. A black mechanical arm slammed violently into the cat mecha’s abdomen.

CRACK!

A shower of sparks burst into the air. Lu Chi let out a muffled groan as a sharp pain shot through his nerves. The system also grunted in pain. But clenching its teeth, it stubbornly refused to make a sound.

The commentator sucked in a sharp breath, his eye for combat keen.

“The reason this student managed to gain the upper hand earlier was probably that he synchronized his consciousness with his mecha, catching his opponent off guard!”

“It’s rare enough for a Beta to accomplish something like that. Truly commendable! Even if he loses, he can hold his head high! After all, this is an A-rank Alpha we’re talking about… invincible beneath S-rank!”

The audience nodded in amazement, clicking their tongues in appreciation of Lu Chi’s combat instincts. As they chatted, many had already begun gathering their belongings, preparing to switch over to another match.

“I didn’t expect him to actually have some skill…”

“This Beta’s not bad. Maybe I should have my dad recruit him into the company as management.”

“He’s only so-so. Giving everything he’s got just to touch an Alpha’s feet. Tsk. Good thing I’m an Omega~.”

Everyone thought the battle would end here.

No Beta could survive more than a minute against an A-rank Alpha, as the gap in rank was an uncrossable chasm. Hundreds of years of interstellar history had taught the Federation one truth:

Secondary gender and rank determined everything.

This was a cruel world, and these were the real rules, rules that bent for no one’s will.

Yet one minute passed.

The gray cat remained stubbornly hovering in the arena, kicked to the ground by the black mecha only to scramble back up, dodging frantically and continuing to run.

The sounds of metal colliding rang out endlessly.

Five minutes passed.

The cat was still there.

Ten minutes passed.

The cat was still there.

Twenty minutes passed.

The cat was still there.

…The cat never left, ah!

At some point, the once-noisy arena had fallen completely silent.

The commentator slowly rose to his feet. Ignoring the rapidly climbing viewer count on the livestream, he stared at the fleeing figure in the arena, fists unconsciously tightening.

The gray cat mecha had been beaten into a wreck. Gone was the sleek, polished appearance it had when it first entered the field. Its desperate, head-down sprinting looked stubborn and pitiful enough to be funny.

But nobody laughed.

Inside the cockpit, Lu Chi’s pale face was drenched in blood from his nose.

He wiped at his face. Even that tiny motion sent waves of pain through his body. The doubled synchronization time had torn through his brain like a blade, agony splitting his nerves apart. Sweat dripped from his silver bangs, while the back of his throat filled with the thick taste of blood.

The system remained silent in his mind.

Clearly gritting its teeth and enduring alongside him.

…That friend from long ago had been right.

Pets really did resemble their owners.

When they got stubborn, their bones were hard enough to pierce through anyone. For some reason, Lu Chi suddenly smiled, and a little blood bubbled from his lips.

The cold, sharp beauty of his features was filled with determination and stubbornness, revealing a breathtaking kind of beauty.

A beauty overflowing with life.

A beauty that climbed upward relentlessly.

Radiant.

Magnificent.

He bit down hard on the tip of his tongue and casually lifted his eyes. Midair, he twisted sharply, once again avoiding the blade slashing toward him from behind.

The A-rank Alpha was practically foaming at the mouth with rage. Flames seemed ready to burst from his black mecha, and even through the heavy metal armor, his furious roar could almost be heard.

“You piece of trash! Stop running already! Are you a rat?! Have you got no dignity at all?!”

According to tournament rules, victory could only be declared when one side surrendered, when “Cocoon” judged a participant defeated, or when every opponent in the arena had been eliminated.

Lu Chi’s endless evasion was clearly exploiting a loophole.

He simply refused to admit defeat.

And the Alpha in front of him was obviously not the type to let him walk away unharmed after surrendering. In that case, he might as well stall and wait for a chance to turn the tables.

After all, anger and impulse destroyed reason, and they could overturn even the most lopsided scales. Lu Chi had never feared waiting. Nor had he ever feared enduring. Because ever since he was young, he had always climbed fate’s mountain this way.

Indeed…

This was a cruel world.

These were the real rules.

Rules that bent for no one’s will.

But Lu Chi wanted heaven and earth themselves to revolve around him. He wanted to stand atop them.

A laser cannon blast suddenly struck the gray cat mecha.

The Alpha instantly seized the opening and accelerated into a jump behind it. The prolonged synchronization had left his own face pale as well. Gritting his teeth, empowered by the absolute rationality granted by “Cocoon”, he grabbed the cat mecha’s hind leg…

He finally had it!

The Alpha’s nerves throbbed violently as he yanked backward with all his strength. The mecha let out a stomach-turning screech of tearing metal, as one of the cat’s hind legs was ripped clean off.

As it tried to flee, ugly black cables were exposed beneath the armor, like shameful scars splitting apart in tangled clusters.

Clang.

Dragging its ruined legs behind it, the cat finally crashed to the ground. It rolled twice before lying motionless in a corner, half-dead.

The arena fell silent.

The commentator slowly sank back into his seat, unable to utter a single word.

The A-rank Alpha exhaled. For the first time in the entire match, he felt relief. Then he realized something horrifying.

Somewhere deep inside, he had been afraid.

His expression instantly darkened, and he severed the synchronization at once, cold sweat dripping down his forehead.

…Fuck.

What a cursed thing.

Just die already!

The black mecha immediately approached the fallen cat. Ignoring the pounding in his skull, the Alpha drew a backup blade and aimed directly at the cockpit. Then drove it down.

“Stop! Student A0911, your actions are a violation of the regulations…!”

BOOM!

An explosion erupted, and the black mecha was blasted backward. Its consciousness link faltered for a brief instant. The next second, the seemingly dying gray cat sprang back to life.

Its forepaw blade shot forward without mercy, plunging directly into the cockpit. Then it slashed downward, hard.

The Alpha’s pupils contracted.

Sweat slid down his face as he stared at the blade inches away. The black mecha instinctively retreated, but the cat clung to him relentlessly. Without saying a word, it brought down the first strike.

Then the second.

Then the third.

Szzzt…

Szzzt…

Until the black mecha’s lights finally died. Face covered in blood, Lu Chi once more piloted the giant cat, just like before.

Limping and calmly walking forward with the system.

Inside and outside the arena, countless spectators stared at him in stunned silence, stared at the impossible miracle. The battered gray cat stood atop the black mecha and, a moment later…

Oil began dripping from its backside in a miserable leak.

Lu Chi heard the urine-leaking system sneer weakly but proudly: [Anyone who bullies my Baby gets stomped to death!]

He couldn’t help laughing. After a long moment, he finally climbed out of the wrecked cockpit. His silver hair was soaked red with blood, covering equally blood-stained brows and eyes, like snow drenched in crimson.

Lu Chi lifted his gaze.

Beyond the holographic barrier, he saw Lin Jingsi standing outside the gate, but his face was somehow even paler than Lu Chi’s own.

The Beta raised an eyebrow as “Cocoon” gently announced the victory. The commentator finally snapped out of his daze and nearly screamed with excitement.

Countless cameras focused on the battered yet beautiful Beta, and Lu Chi showed not the slightest hint of nervousness. After a moment, he suddenly lifted his hand and made a pair of cat ears above his head.

“Kitty ears,” he said with a soft laugh. The next second, Lu Chi finally reached his limit.

His eyes closed.

And he collapsed forward into a warm embrace that rushed toward him at full speed.

…………………

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